Storage and handling of chemical substances



United States Patent 0 US. Cl. 259-72 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method for packing or storage of interactive material in layers or strata in a single container, in which at least one of the layers or strata is divided into two portions, one portion forming the intermediate layer being mixed with a thixotropic or gelling agent to act as a retardant to minimize premature mixing.

This invention relates to improvements in the storage and handling of chemical substances.

Interactive materials for use when mixed as cements, adhesives, mastics, potting and sealing compositions or other compounds have been packed in a single container and separated therein by an inert material which is compatible with the active material but which does not react separately with either or them, this inert material must however be neutral and is normally a liquid plasticiser, diluent, or extender for the active materials and must be present in sufiicient quantity to form the intermediate layer. It has been found that in many compositions the quantity required to form the intermediate layer detracts from the final properties of the cement or the like after mixing of the interactive materials.

It has now been found that it is not necessary to emplay an inert material to separate the interactive materials provided care is taken in the preparation and composition of the interactive materials.

The invention comprises a method for packing or storage of interactive materials in a single container in three or more layers or strata in which at least one of the active materials is divided into two portions, one portion forming the intermediate or middle layer being mixed with a thixotropic or gelling agent or a retardent to minimize premature mixing of the active materials.

In carrying out the invention, one of the interactive materials is divided into two portions. One of these portions may be mixed with the retardant (if any), and this is used to separate the other portion mixed with an accelerator (if any), from the second material. In one form of the invention it is not essential that an accelerator and retardant be present but where an accelerator or retardant are present no reaction must take place between accelerator or retardant and the component with which they are mixed. In another form of the invention in order to prevent premature mixing of the components by diifusion, vibration, etc., the various components are converted into a thicker, buttery, thixotropic or grease-like form by the addition of materials such as aluminum stearate, or other metallic soaps, finely divided silica, specially treated bentonite clay or other means known to those engaged in the practice of making such compositions, and the intermediate layer is so treated when no retardant is present.

If there are more than two main reacting components, this idea can be extended as necessary by the use of additional layers.

To use the composition it is only necessary to mix by hand or mechanical means the contents of the tin, bottle or other container without the removal of any intervening barrier or partition or the transfer of material from one container to another.

The different components may be arranged in any convenient manner within the container, e.g. in vertical or horizontal layers, concentric cylinders, etc., though it is desirable that the arrangement be such that the area of contact between the active components is not unduly high in relation to the volumes of these components.

The mixing device may, if desired, be already inserted in the container as supplied to the user and may take several forms: a wire helix, a paddle stirrer, or a simple metal or plastics plate, etc. This package can if necessary, conveniently be a cartridge to fit one of the guns commonly used in the building and other trades for the application of gun grade material. For use with the standard type of gun, it is necessary to withdraw the stirrer or mixing device before use and this could conveniently, though not necessarily, be done through a suitably shaped hole in the end of the cartridge, designed to ensure that the smallest possible quantity of material is removed on the stirrer or mixing device.

In other form the materials are packed in a flexible but tough sausage-like skin or container, and the contents mixed immdeiately before use by manipulating the container, for instance by twisting or rolling it. One corner may then be cut off and the contents squeezed out, through an added nozzle if necessary.

As an example of suitable components to use in an adhesive or sealing composition the following is suggested.

A polysulphide material known under the trade mark Thiokol LP. 33 will react with an epoxy resin such as is available under the trade mark Epikote 828 in the presence of tri-(dimethyl-laminomethyl)phenol to give a fairly rigid but non brittle material.

This may be packed as follows:

EXAMPLE First layer:

Polysulphide sold under the trade mark Thiokol LP. 33 (active agent) Tri-dimethylaminonmethylphenol (accelerator) Finely divided silica (gelling agent) Surface coated calcium carbonate Second larey:

Polysulphide sold under the trade mark Thiokol LP. 33 (active agent) Finely divided silica (gelling agent) Surface coated calcium carbonate Third layer:

Epoxy resin sold under the trade mark Epikote 828 (active agent) Surface coated calcium carbonate (gelling agent) The whole operation is also rendered cleaner and quicker which is particularly important if one or more of the reactive components is toxic or may cause dermatitis.

What is claimed is:

1. A package comprising, in combination, a receptacle; a first one of two interactive materials contained in said receptacle; a mixture, including a second one of said two interactive materials and an accelerator, also contained in said receptacle; and a layer of said second interactive material without accelerator accommodated in said receptacle between and in direct covering contact with said first material and said mixture.

2. A package as defined in claim 1, wherein said layer contains a quantity of gelling agent.

3. A package as defined in claim 1, and further comprising mixing means in said receptacle and operative for admixing said first material with said layer and said mixture at the will of a user.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Precht 53-6 McAdam Capozzi 20647 Shihadeh 206-47 Gaste 53-21 Bollmeier 53-21 4 3/ 1966 Matteuzzi 20647 8/ 1969 Tibbs 20647 4/1937 Shinn 259-113 8/1964 Cook 259-71 FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1964 Belgium.

WILLIAM T. DIXON, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

